Renn Anderson
Scholarships help grad go from cap and gown to suit and tie in two days
Business major Renn Anderson recently graduated at the top of his class in the University of Oregon Charles H. Lundquist College of Business. Less than forty-eight hours later, he started working as a banking analyst at Pacific Crest Securities of Portland.
Born and raised in Grants Pass, Oregon, Anderson was an honors student most of his life. When it came time to choose a college, the Grants Pass High School valedictorian considered a lot of schools, including the University of California, Berkeley.
“Then one of my teachers told me ‘If you get a 4.0 (GPA), you’ll get a full ride at the University of Oregon,” says Anderson. And that was key for Anderson, whose father is a UPS driver and mother is a graphic designer. The scholarship support also played a major role in making his UO experience more rewarding and leaving him debt-free at graduation.
Increasing support for students such as Anderson is an important part of Campaign Oregon: Transforming Lives, the university's $600 million fundraising endeavor. In its final year, the campaign is well on its way to garnering $100 million for scholarship support.
Support like that will enrich the experiences of even more students. Anderson’s financial aid package let Anderson focus on his studies, not his finances, allowing him to complete an internship at Florida’s Walt Disney World.
Before going to Orlando, Anderson had never been on a plane or east of Montana. Once there, he focused on operations finance at Walt Disney World’s food and beverage division.
The highlight came when the vice president of finance chose Anderson to help give a presentation.
“I learned what it takes to make a professional presentation to a business executive,” Anderson says. “That’s an experience you can’t get in the classroom.”
Click HERE for a quick video feature.